I can guarantee the provenance as below
On the night of the 11th/12th Feb 1941, 99 Squadron Wellington Mk1 R-LN “R”for Robert (T2888) lifted off from Newmarket on a sortie to Bremen, on board where Sgt Pilot Robinson, Sgt D N Beal, Sgt A R Clough, on return to the UK the area was found to be fogbound, after trying to locate their position for some time the aircraft finally ran out of fuel somewhere to the east of Wisbech, Cambridgeshire, the order was given to abandon the aircraft and the 3 men jumped.
Later it was found that sadly Sgt A R Clough had drowned in one of the many drains and dykes of the area.
Meanwhile the empty Wellington crashed about 5 miles south of Wisbech on land near Stags Holt, the aircraft buried itself deep in the soft ground
Forty one years later I was part of the team set to recover the remains of this Aircraft, recovery continued for 3 days and the site was visited by the former pilot of R for Robert “Benny” Goodman.
Benny Goodman was on leave when “his” aircraft was used by the above crew, Sgt pilot “Benny” Goodman survived the war and eventually left the RAF as Group Captain “Benny” Goodman AFC DFC
Parts of this aircraft are on display at the Fenland Aircraft preservation museum near Wisbech, One of the propeller blades is now mounted on a plinth at the entrance to the Jockey club Newmarket (The home of 99 Squadron)
This item is a bomb release mechanism it has been sympathetically cleaned and when the two parts are fitted together the mechanisiam still operates,
Item weighs 2&3/4lb
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